Zim football needs complete overhaul

IT never rains but pours for our Warriors. Our hopes and dreams as a nation have been shattered again by the lukewarm performance of our beloved Warriors at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Who bewitched Zimbabwe? Is it about poor preparations? Is boardroom politics affecting the performance of the Zimbabwe national team?

Since the Warriors made their maiden appearance in 2004, they have never qualified to the group stages of the tournament. Watching the Warriors playing their first two games at the ongoing Afcon tournament was like watching a sheep being led into a slaughterhouse.

As a nation, we need a complete overhaul of our football.

I will not blame the coach for the poor performance of the Warriors at the African soccer jamboree, because our football is still in the intensive care unit and needs to be given a lifeline. I think the government has not done enough to support the development of football in the country and only comes in when national teams qualify for such tournaments. Sponsorship is lacking and soccer academies are struggling.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, local football went on a break and the consequences of such stoppages are manifesting.

Our football has been on the death bed for almost two-and-half years. We have not been playing football in the country while our neighbours were knocking the ball around.

We need to critically look into this problem and solve it once and for all. We must go back to the drawing board and resuscitate junior football structures.

The Afcon tournament has exposed our technical team, Zifa and government. It was a very tough assignment for coach Norman Mapeza and his contingent of players.

Tournaments like Afcon and World Cup are all about results, not to pick positives as Mapeza wanted us to believe. Poor tactics cost us, especially against Malawi. There is no honour in defeat.

Our last game against Guinea is likely to be another defeat if we are not careful.

Zifa is another impediment to the development of local football.

As it stands, we do not have a proper database of Under-17, Under-21 and Under-23 players.

During the 1980s, we used to have powerful junior structures which would act as a feeder to the national team and a lot of players graduated from Under-23 to the main squad. Where is Zifa putting the developmental funds?

Warriors captain Knowledge Musona has served so well and is now about to hang his boots, who is going to replace him?

The game against Malawi laid bare the need to have a creative midfilder such as Denver Mukamba. That was the missing link. It seems we do not have players who are hungry for success.

Most of these players do not disserve to don the Warriors colours. They have nothing to show for it and should not be called for national duty. Leonard Koni